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Baby Boom Continues At Busch Gardens

TAMPA, Fla. (May 8, 2014) – The baby boom continues this spring, and just in time for Mother’s Day, at Busch Gardens® Tampa with the births of a Southern tamandua and three reticulated giraffes.

Southern Tamanduas:

Born on April 13, 2014.
· Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, are native to Central and South America.
· Tamanduas have a gestation period of approximately six months.
· When a baby tamandua, or pup, is born, it typically spends several months riding on the mother’s back.
· Both the mother and the pup, which has not been named, are behind-the-scenes with Busch Gardens’ animal care team.

Reticulated Giraffes:

The three babies were born on March 12, 14 and 18 to mothers Bititi, Tequiza and Celina.
· There were two females and one male born.
· At birth, the females stood at 5 feet 6 inches and weighed more than 100 lbs. The male stood at more than 6 feet tall and weighed nearly 150 lbs.
· Within an hour of birth, the calves were standing and within two hours they were nursing.
· None of the calves have been named yet.
· Giraffes are the tallest mammal on Earth, with males standing close to 18 feet tall and females close to 16 feet tall.
· The gestation period for a giraffe is between 14-15 months, and the female gives birth while standing.
· All three calves are currently behind-the-scenes and will be on Busch Gardens’ Serengeti Plain® in the coming weeks.

Busch Gardens is owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™, one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a worldwide leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for one of the largest animal collections on the North American continent and has helped lead advances in the care of species in zoological facilities and in the conservation of wild populations.